Quick-change slush nozzle



, 0 2th I0, 1950 c. c. GOOLSBEE ETAL 2,525,667

Char/ C G /b Duane W W INVENTOR.

BY W K m ATTORIVL XJ Patented Oct. 10, 1950 QUICK-CHANGE SLUSH NOZZLE Charles C.

Goolsbee and Duane W. Wallace,

Houston, Tex., assignors to Reed Roller Bit Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application J anuary 6, 1948, Serial No. 728

4 Claims. (01. 285-163) This invention relates to improvements in interchangeable slush nozzles for rotary drill bits and refers more particularly to such an assembly wherein the nozzle element may be readily interchanged without the use of special tools.

In boring well holes with rotary bits it is the practice to maintain circulation of a drilling fluid known to the industry as mud or slush. This fluid is usually circulated downwardly through the drill stem, drill bit and out through slush ports in the bit body. The mud is preferably directed by the slush port upon the cutter elements of the bit to cleanse adhering debris therefrom and to pick up the cuttings. The mud then circulates upwardly through the well bore surrounding the bit and drill stem. The gritty character of the mud makes it desirable to use slush nozzles of wear resisting material and more recently the practice has been to provide readily interchangeable slush nozzles.

For quick change nozzles it has heretofore been the practice to employ a bushing which is welded in the slush port and the interchangeable nozzle is secured within the bushing by means of a sleeve of relatively soft material, which is. welded at one end to the periphery of the bushing. The other end of the sleeve is castellated to permit bending of the castellated portion over the end of the bushing so as to releaseably anchor the nozzle within the bushing. The end of the sleeve which is welded to the nozzle is bell shaped to provide a seating surface for compressing sealing material between such surface and a complementary surface formed upon the bushing. While this assembly has proven satisfactory, in use, from the standpoint of performance, it is nevertheless desirable to provide an assembly which is equally efficient in operation, which may be more readily changed, and in which the sleeve is eliminated to reduce the number of requisite parts.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved slush nozzle assembly in which the slush nozzle may be readily changed.

Another object is to provide a slush nozzle assembly wherein the nozzle may be readily changed in the field without the use of special tools.

A further object is to provide a slush nozzle assembly wherein the nozzle is releasably secured in operative position by use of a snap ring.

Yet another object is to provide a quick change slush nozzle for a drill bit wherein the nozzle is resiliently mounted to permit breathing thereof due to the pressure diiferential thereacross.

and narrow diameterportions thereof.

to releasably secure the slush nozzle c'onceny trically within the bushing and in slidable en- Other and further objects of the inventio will appear as the description proceeds.

. In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith, and wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is a. sectional view through a bit body with parts broken away, equipped with a slush nozzle assembly embodying this invention and shown in partially exploded view; h

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary viewsimilar to that shown in Fig. 1 showing the slush nozzle assembled in operating position; and

Fig. 3 is an end view of'the slush nozzle assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the assembly viewed from the snap ring end.

Referring to the drawings in detail, numeral '5 represents a bit body, which in the embodiment shown is a conventional drag type bit. It is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to use in roller bits and one or a plurality of slush nozzle assemblies may be employed with each bit, depending upon the bit requirements.

The bit body is provided with an aperture or port 6 to accommodate the passage of drilling fluid therethrough. The slush nozzle assembly is secured inplace within aperture 6 and has a part or bushing l which is preferably secured to the bit body by a semi-permanent connection such as welding 8. The bushing may be made of hard wear resisting material and has a bore therethrough which receives the slush nozzle 9. The nozzle has a port which preferably has'a wear resisting surface. 7

The outside diameter of theslush nozzle 9 is such thatit fitsclosely within the narrow diameter portion of the bore through bushing l as shown more clearly inFig. 2 and forms an annular space H] with the portion of the bushing having the enlarged diameter bore. In this embodiment a tapered section of the bore joinsthe large n rd gagement therewith a means is provided including cooperating parts upon the bushing and nozzle and a seal ring. The parts upon the nozzle include an annular bead ll externally surrounding the nozzle. The parts cooperating therewith, upon the bushing, include the interior annular shoulder. 12, the tapered portion of the bore through the bushing and seat groove 13 for accommodation of a snap ring 14. The end. 0i bushing 1 adjacent groove is a cutaway portion l5 for receiving the end portions of ring [4.

Sealing material is is preferably formed in a shape to substantially fit within the annular space between the bushing and nozzle between the close fitting portion thereof and the underside of bead ll. However, the sealing material should be of such character that it must be somewhat compressed in order for the nozzle to be inserted into the bushing to the extent shown in Fig. 2. The nozzle is held in this position with the sealing material compressed by snap ring I4 which is seated within groove l3 and is engaged by bead ii. The compression of the sealing material forces the bead il against the interior portion of the periphery of the snap ring and this force urges the snap ring into seated position. The extended end portions of ring it may be manually squeezed together to release the ring from groove it and thus permit a quick change of nozzle 9 when the nozzle has become worn or to provide ready access to sealing material it in the event it is desired to replace this material.

When the slush nozzle assembly has been installed in a bit body and the bit placed in operation the resilient material it permits limited breathing movement of the nozzle in response to changes in the pressure differential thereacross. Also, this material cushions the engagement between the nozzle and bushing to reduce shock, vibrations and the like. The tapered portion of the annular space is however filled with sealing materialand a Wedge action results which permits but slight axial movement of the nozzle due to variations in pressure differentials thereacross It will be seen that the objects of this invention have been accomplished. There has been provided a simple and yet efiicient slush nozzle assembly. The arrangement is such that the nozzle secured within the bushing l in turn is semi-permanently secured in a slush port of a bit body. With this construction the nozzle may be readily and quickly changed by use of ordinary tools. The nozzle is resiliently secured Within the bushing reducing the likelihood of failure of parts dueto fatigue.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A quick change slush nozzle assembly adaptable to be secured in a slush port of a rotary bit body, said assembly comprising a bushing with a bore therethrough, a tubular nozzle within the bore closely fittin a portion thereof, an annular space between the bushing and nozzle at one end of the bushing, an annular external bead upon the nozzle periphery'and adapted to reside within the annular space, sealing material within the space between the bead and the close fitting portion of the bushing and nozzle completely filling said space and confined by the bead, and a snap ring releaseably seated in the bushing within the annular space cooperable with the bead to retain the nozzle in position within the bushing with the sealing material compressed to provide a seal between the nozzle and bushing.

2. A quick change slush nozzle assembly adaptable to be secured in a slush port of a rotary bit body, said assembly comprising a bushing with a bore therethrough, a tubular nozzle within the bore closely fittin a portion thereof and providing an annular space between the bushing and nozzle adjacent one end of the bushing, means for providing a seal between the nozzle and bushing including sealing material in the I annular space completel filling the same and an annular bead upon the nozzle, said bead fitting within the space and engaging the sealing material confining and holding it in sealing relation with the confronting walls of the bushing and nozzle, and a snap rin releasably held in the bushing and engageable by the head to retain the nozzle within the bushing.

3. In combination a bit body having a slush port and a slush nozzle assembly within the port, said assembly including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a tubular nozzle within the bore closely fitting a portion thereof, an annular space between the bushing and nozzle at one end of the bushing, an annular external bead upon the nozzle periphery, said bead adapted to reside within the annular space, sealing material within the space between the bead and the close fitting portion of the bushing and nozzle completely filling said space and confined by the bead, and a snap ring releasably seated in the bushing within the annular space cooperable with the bead .to retain the nozzle in position within the bushing with the sealing material compressed to provide a seal between the nozzle and bushing.

i. In combination a bit body having a slush port and a slush nozzle assembly within the port, said assembl including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a tubular nozzle within the bore closely fitting a portion thereof, an annular space between the bushing and nozzle at one end of the bushing, means for providing a seal between the nozzle and bushing including sealing material in the annular space completely filling the same and an annular bead upon the nozzle, said bead fitting within the space and the bead to retain the nozzle within the bushing.

CHARLES C. GOOLSBEE'. DUANE W. WALLACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 1,949,451 Brulatour Mar. 6, 1934 2,429,782 Versoy Oct. 28, 1947 

